WINNER: Song Hwa wins hammer gold despite nursing slipped disc
TAN Song Hwa put her entire career in jeopardy when she decided to compete in the Sea Games despite suffering a slipped disc just two weeks ago.
Song Hwa trained for nine months in a bid to win her second Sea Games hammer throw gold and decided to, with the blessings of coach Frank Petrovic, fight the pain and compete.
It was a risk that paid off at the Jakabaring Complex yesterday as she registered 55.15m for what was only Malaysia's second gold of the day.
Song Hwa said she felt pain during her throws but once she registered her winning distance in her fourth attempt, she slowed down and completed the next two efforts without any pressure.
Indonesia's Rose Hermona was a distant second with 51.95 while Loralie Sermona of the Philippines took bronze with 49.69m.
Song Hwa, usually jovial and friendly with the media, had been reserved since she came to Palembang and the Kuantan-born revealed that she was just trying to avoid any attention due to her condition.
"I was confirmed suffering from a slipped disc just two weeks ago and but didn't want the injury to shatter my dreams. I have been preparing hard for nine months and I wasn't going to let the gold slip away," said the 25-year-old Song Hwa.
"This was also the reason I avoided the media and kept saying I didn't want to go for any records. Had I been fit, I am sure I would have set a new record as my personal best is 58.71m."
Malaysia's medal count in athletics dried after Song Hwa's efforts as Melinder Kaur stumbled to fourth place in the women's 3,000m steeplechase.
Noor Imran Hadi finished sixth (10.55) in the men's 100m while Ambrose Jilon limped to the finish line with a ham string injury.
In the women's 100m, Nurul Sarah Abdul Kadir was fifth (11.86) while Norjannah Hafiszah Jamaludin was last (12.03).
Indonesia celebrated a double in the 100m through Franklin Ramses Burumi (10.37s) and Serafi Anelis Yunani (11.69s) in the men's and women's finals respectively.
Song Hwa trained for nine months in a bid to win her second Sea Games hammer throw gold and decided to, with the blessings of coach Frank Petrovic, fight the pain and compete.
It was a risk that paid off at the Jakabaring Complex yesterday as she registered 55.15m for what was only Malaysia's second gold of the day.
Song Hwa said she felt pain during her throws but once she registered her winning distance in her fourth attempt, she slowed down and completed the next two efforts without any pressure.
Indonesia's Rose Hermona was a distant second with 51.95 while Loralie Sermona of the Philippines took bronze with 49.69m.
Song Hwa, usually jovial and friendly with the media, had been reserved since she came to Palembang and the Kuantan-born revealed that she was just trying to avoid any attention due to her condition.
"I was confirmed suffering from a slipped disc just two weeks ago and but didn't want the injury to shatter my dreams. I have been preparing hard for nine months and I wasn't going to let the gold slip away," said the 25-year-old Song Hwa.
"This was also the reason I avoided the media and kept saying I didn't want to go for any records. Had I been fit, I am sure I would have set a new record as my personal best is 58.71m."
Malaysia's medal count in athletics dried after Song Hwa's efforts as Melinder Kaur stumbled to fourth place in the women's 3,000m steeplechase.
Noor Imran Hadi finished sixth (10.55) in the men's 100m while Ambrose Jilon limped to the finish line with a ham string injury.
In the women's 100m, Nurul Sarah Abdul Kadir was fifth (11.86) while Norjannah Hafiszah Jamaludin was last (12.03).
Indonesia celebrated a double in the 100m through Franklin Ramses Burumi (10.37s) and Serafi Anelis Yunani (11.69s) in the men's and women's finals respectively.
Read more: SEA GAMES: Through the pain barrier - Other - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/other/sea-games-through-the-pain-barrier-1.5215#ixzz1deE0P0dR
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